Larson has million-dollar day

Driver earns spot in All-Star Race, wins with some help

Kyle Larson got a push to the front from Kevin Harvick in the final stage, then held off the defending champion to win the NASCAR All-Star Race on Saturday night.

Larson wasn't part of the elite field when the day began, racing his way in by winning the Monster Energy Open earlier at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Now, he's got $1 million for the win and plenty to celebrate in a season where he's had only three top 10s and his biggest highlight was a frightening, airborne crash at Talladega Superspeedway last month.

"It feels amazing," Larson said. "I came close to winning a couple of years ago. It feels good to close it out."

Larson did it with a decisive shove through the pack by Harvick, a two-time All-Star champion who was eager for a third. Larson was sixth in the next-to-last restart with 12 laps left when he found enough space to squeeze between Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. Harvick jumped on Larson's bumper and powered him into the lead.

Harvick didn't count on Larson keeping it, though. Larson, a Chip Ganassi Racing driver, often had Busch and Harvick side-by-side in his rear-view mirror but held them off to take the victory.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Advent Health Chevrolet, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 18, 2019 in ... more

Photo: Jared C. Tilton

Larson has million-dollar day

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Soon after Larson took the checkered flag, pole sitter Clint Bowyer ran to Ryan Newman's car and began raining punches through the window before the two were separated by a crew member.

Newman said Bowyer "chopped" him on the track and hit him once more later in the race.

Indy 500: Fernando Alonso failed to lock himself into the field on the first day of qualifying. The two-day qualifying process guarantees a spot in the May 26 race for the fastest 30 cars in Saturday qualifying.